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Contribution limits

As a rule of thumb taxpayers earning approximately $35,000 or less should favour the TFSA, while higher-income earners are likely to benefit more from contributing to an RRSP.

Other factors to consider are years remaining to retirement, income level before retirement, expected reliance on the different programs in retirement, level of expected income in retirement, and of course life expectancy.

But keep in mind that this rule of thumb only applies to the first $ 5,500 contribution. For taxpayers who can save more than $ 5,500 and who are in the middle-income bracket the differences between the two accounts are modest but benefit slightly by maxing out their TFSA and putting the rest in their RRSP. For high income earners, the reverse is true, max out your RRSPs contributions and use a TFSA for additional savings.

The table below provides a comparison between the two accounts:

TFSA vs. RRSP

TFSA

RRSP

Age minimum

No minimum though you must have earned income

18 years old or older

Contriution limit

The lesser of 18 per cent of your earned income or $25,370 for the 2016 tax year

A maximum of $5,500 for the 2016 tax year (see above for other tax years)

Carry forward

Until plan is wound up

Indefinitely

Tax deductibility of contributions

Yes

No

Consequence of withdrawal

Taxed at marginal rate

No tax

Tax implications in retirement

withdrawals are considered income regardless of how the income was earned (in the form of interest, dividends, or capital gains) and taxed at your marginal tax rate at the time of withdrawal. This may result in clawback from other programs such as Old Age Security

Withdrawals are not considered income and do not result in clawbacks from other programs.

Spousal contributions

If you contribute to your spouses plan, your contribution room will be affected.

If you contribute to your spouses plan, their contribution room will be affected.